Condensing system



April 19, 1932. P.. A. BANCEL ET AL CONDENSING SYSTEM Filed Nov. I 29, 1930 Patented Apr. l),l 1932 j UNITED sTaTss PATENT orrice PAUL A. BANCEL, OF MONTCLAIR, NEVI JERSEY, AND JOHN KIRGAN, OF EASTON, :PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY GI'JIY,v NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY p CONDENSING SYSTEM Appiicaaon mea November 29, 1930. semi No. 498,923.

This invention relates to condensers, but more particularly to a condensing system comprising a condenser and condensate removal apparatus and in which cooling water unsuited for boiler feed nurooses is circulated through the cooling tubes of the condenser for condensing the steam.

One object of the invent-ion is to prevent contamination of the boiler water feed supp 5Another object is to permit of ready removal of condensate which has become contaminated by cooling water leaking into portions of the condenser while at the saine time removing pure condensate from other portions of the condenser by means of instrumentalities provided for that purpose.

Still another object is to readily effect communication between a plurality of separater compartments of a condenser and any one of a plurality of condensate removal, pumps.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l shows an elevation partly in section of a condensing system constructed in accordance with the practice ofthe invention, and Fig. 2 illustrates a typical steam ejector suitable for n Vevacuating the condenser. 30 Y Referring to the drawings, A designate-s generally a condenser which comprises a casing B having arranged at its ends water heads 'C and D.

Y For the purposes of this invention the water head C may constitute the inlet head into which water from a suitable source of supply may be introduced to assure an ample fiow of cooling water through the cooling tubes E which extend longitudinally through the casing B. The Ycooling tubes E extend transversely of the direction of steam flow through the casing B, it being assumed that the steam inlet (not shown) of the casing B is located at the top of the casing.

The cooling liquid flowing through the tubes E is discharged into the water box D whence it may pass to its destination, as for instance, over-board in cases where the system is used on marine craft.

In accordance with the present invention the interior of the casing B is divided into a Vplurality of compartments F by partitions G the casing B. and the grooves are so arranged and thus prevent one compartment F to another. Beneath the casing B, of which it forms a part and with respect to which it is spaced, is a wall J having lateral walls K which which are seated in suitable grooves H in Preferably the partitions Gr H wherein they are disposed as to form fluid tight joints leakage of condensate from unite with the bottom of the casing B to form a plurality of non-communicating hotwells L into `which condensate may flow through outlet openings O in the lowermost portions of the compartments F.

Each hotwell L has an outlet opening P through which condensate may flow into .l branch conduits Q of a main conduit R connected to the inlet opening (not shown) of a condensate removal pump S. The arrangement of the conduits Q and B is lsuch that upon operation of the pump S condensate will be withdrawn from each of the hotwells L.

In apparatus of the character to which the present invention pertains it happens not infrequently that, due to fracture of the cooling tubes E or failure thereof through other causes, a portion of the water used for supplying the cooling tubes leaks into the condenser and intermingles with the condensate. When cooling water of inferior quality, as for instance salt water, is used as a cooling medium, such water mixing with the condensate renders the condensate unfit for use in the boilers. It is accordingly contemplated to provide means whereby, when the condensate in any of the compartment-s F becomes polluted, the removal of such polluted condensate may be eected without seriously interfering with the normal operation of the condensing system. To this end the branch conduits Q are provided with valve mechanisms designated generally by T. Each valve mechanism T comprises a casing U having a central chamber V into which the condensate fiows from the outlet openings P. On the opposite sides of the chamber V are seats VV and X in which are formed ports Y and All.

Z respectively, and a valve which may be of the reciprocatory type, is arranged in the chamber to cooperate with the seats VV and X for controlling the ports Y and Z. The valve Z) may be actuated in any-suitable manner, as for instance by means of a hand wheel c carried by a stem d to which the valve is connected.

-:[nthe construction-shown the port-s Y in the valve casing U are in communication with the branch conduits Q, and the ports Z atlord communication between the chamber V f the valve casing U, and branch conduits e which communicate with a mainconduit f connected to convey condensate to a pump g.

Any-suitable means may be provided for detecting the presence of salt water in the condenser, as for instance, salinometers des- -gnatedby t and which may be inserted in the `branch conduits Q, between the hotwells andthe valve casing U.

4During the normal operation of the condenser the valves b are seated upon the seats X to prevent the entran-ce of condensate into .theconduits c and f and to provide a free :path for pure condensate through the conduits Q and R to the pump S.

If,\during the courseof operation a leak occurs Ain any of the cooling tubes E so that salty cooling water flows into one of the compartments F the respective valve associated-with thel compartment wherein leakage occurs may be actuatedto its other extreme -position'to seat upon r.the seat lV. In this "way communication iscut off between the affectedv compartment and the pump intended ffor rcmovingpure condensate, and the pump g, whichmay be that intended for removing polluted condensate, is then set in operation. ln this way the salt water will be prevented from nding its way into the boiler feed supply.

Communication between the' affected compartmentand the air and non-condensable 4gas evacuating apparatus which may be a steanrejectorl may then be cut off by a suitable-valve la. The ejector Zmay be connected in any suitable manner to the lseparate hotwells .L at air removaloutlets y'. Shutting i olf the ejector, will cause the affected com- -partmentito become air bound so that only a very small portion of steam will enter the said compartment. As a result the conden- -satelloss due to the condensation of the steam 'i' .in .the affected compartment will be very slight.

We claim:

l. A condensing system, comprising a coi1- denser having a plurality of condensing compartments, a'plurality of condensate removal pumps, means connecting each pump with a common outlet of each of the compartments, and means in said outlet for selectively controlling communication between the compartments and the pump.

, placin g either 2. A condensing system, comprising a condenser having a plurality of condensing compartments, a pump for removing pure condensate from the compartments, a second pump for removing polluted condensate from the compartments, and means for-selectively pump in communication with the compartments, and simultaneously breaking communication with the other-pump.

3. A condensing system, comprising a-conydenser having a plurality of condensing compartments, a pump for removing pure condensatetherefrom, another pump for removing polluted condensate therefrom, and single control means associated with each compartmentfor elfecting communication between any compartment andr either pump.

ll. A condensing system, comprising a condenser having a plurality of condensing compartments, a plurality of conduits connected -f to convey condensate therefrom andleading to different destinations, and a valve associated with each compartment for :selectively communicating theconduits with the condenser.

5. A condensing system, comprisinga condenser having a plurality of condensing compartments, a plurality of conduits connected theretofor conveying condensate therefrom, and a valve associated-with each compartment to selectively place any of the conduits in communication withsaid compartment.

6. A condensing system, comprising a `condenser having a plurality of condensing compartments, separate hotwells in the condenser for each compartment and having outlet openingsfor condensate,lapair1of condensate removal pumps, conduits arranged in pairs and connecting each outlet opening toeach pump, and a valve assoeiatedwith eachout-: let for 'selectively controlling thetlow of condensate to either pump.

7. In a condenser of the surfaoetype, means to segregate condensate from different condensingsections, and separate means'to di- 1. .vert contamina-ted condensate yfrom the feed water system.

8. In combination a surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, a condensate outlet from` each section, and means associated with each outlet to selectively direct the courseof the `condensate therefrom.

9. In combination a surface condenserdivided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, a condensate outlet from each section, and means manually operable associated with cach outlet to selectively direct the course of the condensate therefrom.

l0. In combination a surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection'of condensate, a-condensate outlet fromeach section, and a valve associated With each outlet to selectively direct the course of the condensate therefrom.

1l. In combination a surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, a condensate outlet from each section, connections from each outlet to a condensate circulating pump and a discharge pump, and

single means in each outlet to selectively direct the condensate to either pump.

12. In combination a surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, a condensate outlet from each section, connections from each outlet to a condensate circulating pump and a discharge pump, and a valve in each outlet to selectively direct the.'

condensate to either pump.

13. A surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, and means to selectively reduce the condensing capacity of any section and to segregate the condensate therefrom.

14. A surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, separate condensate outlets from each section, means to reduce the steam flow through any section, and separate means in each condensate outlet to control the disposition of the condensate therefrom.

15. A surface condenser divided into separate sections for the condensation of steam and the collection of condensate, separate condensate outlets from each section, air evacuation means conn-ected to each section, means to control the air evacuation from each section, and separate means to control the disposition of the condensate therefrom.

In testimony whereof We have signed this specication.

PAUL A. BANCEL. JOHN KIRGrAN.l 

